Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI01181’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘MI01181’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; strong flowering stems; strong and relatively small leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; small white-colored flowers with large red purple-colored lateral spots on the lateral petals; and good postproduction longevity and resistance to bud drop during transport.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MI01181’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee of the instant application, Microflor N. V. of Lochristi, Belgium on Sep. 21, 2020, application number 2020/2268. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MI01181’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lochristi, Belgium. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new freely flowering Phalaenopsis plants with good leaf shape and relatively small flowers with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in 2011 in Lochristi, Belgium of a proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PH01616, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PH01477, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lochristi, Belgium in September, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristem propagation in a controlled environment in Lochristi, Belgium since May, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MI01181’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MI01181’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Strong flowering stems.     -   4. Strong and relatively small leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per         plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.     -   6. Small white-colored flowers with large red purple-colored         lateral spots on the lateral petals.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity and resistance to bud drop         during transport.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are shorter         than inflorescences of plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have smaller flowers than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. The flower labella of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are         yellow and white in color whereas the flower labella of plants         of the female parent selection are pink in color.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have white-colored flowers         with large red purple-colored lateral spots on the lateral         petals whereas plants of the male parent selection are         white-colored flowers without spots.     -   2. The flower labella of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are         yellow and white in color whereas the flower labella of plants         of the male parent selection are orange red in color.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘MI00819’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘MI00819’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have shorter inflorescences         than plants of ‘MI00819’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have smaller flowers than         plants of ‘MI00819’.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can also be compared to plants of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Anastasia 7’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Anastasia 7’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis are taller than plants of         ‘Anastasia 7’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have white-colored flowers         with large red purple-colored lateral spots on the lateral         petals whereas plants of ‘Anatasia 7’ have white-colored flowers         with or without spots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MI01181’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘MI01181’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer in 9-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Lochristi, Belgium and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsis production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 29° C. and light levels ranged from 150 Watt/m² to 375 Watt/m². Plants were 66 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘MI01181’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida             identified as code number PH01616, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida             identified as code number PH01477, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About nine to ten weeks at             temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten to eleven weeks at             temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 140 to             160 days at temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 150 to             180 days at temperatures about 26° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically grey green in             color, towards the apex, close to light green; actual color             of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Small amount of branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright             plant habit with typically two branched inflorescences per             plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;             vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About             10.5 cm.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of             inflorescences.—About 33.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 33 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about             seven leaves per plant.         -   Length.—About 16 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Aspect.—Outwardly arching.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to spatulate.         -   Apex.—Unequal acute.         -   Base.—Sheathing.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly             furrowed, glabrous; moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 146A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers             arranged on axillary branched racemes or panicles; typically             two inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about             14 open flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching             inflorescences supported by upright peduncles; flowers with             three petals, two lateral petals and one center petal             transformed into a labellum and three sepals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 17 weeks after             an inductive cooling period.         -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers             maintain good substance for about 16 weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent; plants of the new Phalaenopsis             resist bud drop during transport.         -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence             apex).—About 16.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 7 cm by 16 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 149D tinged with close to 70C.         -   Flower diameter.—Relatively small, about 5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals             and one center petal transformed into a labellum.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm.             Shape: Reniform. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety;             matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:             Close to NN155D with spots, close to 79A and N78A. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D;             red purple spots visible from upper surface.         -   Labella.—Appearance: Tri-lobed with two lateral lobes and a             central lobe. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm.             Shape, lateral lobes: Ovate. Shape, central lobe: Ovate.             Apex, lateral lobes: Obtuse. Apex, central lobe: Emarginate             with two short, narrow and recurved cirrose tips. Margins,             lateral and central lobes: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety;             matte. Callosities: Located at the base of the labellum and             attachment point of the lateral petals; about 6 mm in             length, about 4 mm in width and about 2 mm in height. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D;             towards the apex, tinged with close to 10A; towards the             base, spot, close to N78A. Central lobe: Close to 155D and             10A; towards the base, some spots, close to N78A.             Callosities: Close to 79A. When opening, lower surface:             Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D; towards the apex, tinged             with close to 10A; towards the base, spot, close to N78A.             Central lobe: Close to 155D and 10A. Fully opened, upper             surface: Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D; towards the apex,             tinged with close to 10A; towards the base, spot, close to             N78A. Central lobe: Close to 155D and 10A. Callosities:             Close to 79A. When opening, lower surface: Lateral lobes:             Close to NN155D; towards the apex, tinged with close to 10A;             towards the base, spot, close to N78A. Central lobe: Close             to 155D and 10A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, two lower lateral             sepals and one upper dorsal sepal. Length, lateral sepal:             About 2.5 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 1.6 cm. Length,             dorsal sepal: About 2.6 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About             1.7 cm. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate. Shape, dorsal sepal:             Elliptic. Apex, lateral sepals: Obtuse. Apex, dorsal sepal:             Obtuse to broadly and bluntly acute. Base, lateral and             dorsal sepals: Rounded to cuneate. Margin, lateral and             dorsal sepals: Entire. Texture and luster, lateral and             dorsal sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,             velvety; matte. Color, lateral sepals: When opening, upper             surface: Close to NN155D slightly overlain with close to 2D;             spot, close to N78A. When opening, lower surface: Close to             155D overlain with close to 149B and towards the center,             close to 67B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D;             spot, close to N78A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             155D; towards the center, close to 67B. Color, dorsal sepal:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D             blushed with close to 67C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 36 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Strong, somewhat flexible. Aspect: Upright to             about 45° from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 138A; fine dots, close to             200B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 85° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 149D; proximally, close to 79A and distally, close             to 65D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 7 mm.             Column width: About 4 mm. Column color: Close to 155D.             Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia diameter (per two             pollinia): About 2 mm. Pollinia color: Close to 21A.             Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 3 mm. Stigma width: About             2 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma color: Close to N155A.             Ovary length: About 7 mm. Ovary diameter: About 3 mm. Ovary             color: Close to 65D. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and             fruit development have not been observed on plants of the             new Phalaenopsis. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis     has been shown to be relatively more tolerant to Fusarium spp. than     other cultivars of Phalaenopsis. To date, plants of the new     Phalaenopsis have not been shown to be resistant to pests and other     pathogens common to Phalaenopsis plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been     observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and suitable     for USDA Hardiness Zone 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI01181’ as illustrated and described. 